The Teton County Sheriff’s Office has described the $100,000+ theft by a Jackson, WY businessman as the ‘most audacious theft case in decades’, reports the Jackson Hole News and Guide.
“The variety, I have never seen anything like it,” Teton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bret Bommer said.
Michael Dennis Lynch, a contractor and the owner of Teton Precision Scapes, faces charges of aggravated burglary, four counts of felony theft, burglary, two counts of forgery, two counts of domestic battery, unauthorized use of personal identifying information and aggravated assault and battery. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
“Through the course of the investigation we keep discovering new crimes that occurred,” Bommer said. “So much has come to light.”
Deputies have identified eight victims, officials said, and have so far recovered hundreds of stolen items worth about $100,000. Lynch became a burglary suspect after his former landlord returned home from an extended trip and noticed several items missing from his Jackson house. Deputies believe he stole silver and gold coins, pills, computer hard drives, computer software, jewelry, artwork, musical instruments, rugs, radios, a rifle and two pistols, lists the News and Guide.
“We are still missing a snowplow and two guns that we haven’t been able to locate,” Bommer said. “We also recovered some stolen items from his shop in Teton County, Idaho.”
Lynch’s business provides landscaping, maintenance, irrigation, excavation and snow removal services, according to its professional Yelp webpage.
